Winding apparatus



Dec. 16, 1958 E. SINTERMANN 2,864,563

WINDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1957 WINDING APPARATUS ErwinSintermann, Unna, Germany Application January 11, 1957, Serial No.633,558

Claims. (Cl. 242--25) The present invention relates to windingapparatus.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a winding apparatusof the type disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 428,074, ledMay 6, 1954, now Patent No. 2,796,220 dated June 18, 1957, whichconcerns itself with a winding apparatus adapted to coil wire filamentsor the like onto a spool which may, during the winding operation, eitherbe held stationary, or be rotated. It is an object of the presentinvention to provide such -a winding apparatus in which the mechanismwhich enables the machine to operate with either a stationary spool -ora rotating spool is an exceedingly simple one which is of sturdyconstruction and which may be built at very low cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a windingapparatus in which a simple manual operation is all that is required totransform the machine from a winding device in which the spool isstationary to a winding machine in which the spool is rotated. i

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists inthat improvement in a winding apparatus which comprises rotatable spoolmeans, rotatable winding means adapted to carry a filament for Windingthe same on the spool means, and motion transmitting meansinterconnecting the spool means and the winding means, which motiontransmitting means include planetary gear means for holding the spoolmeans stationary during rotation of the winding means and clutch meansfor coupling the spool means and the winding' means for rotation witheach other. The motion transmitting means are movable between twopositions in one of which only the planetary gear means is operative andin the other of which only the clutch means is operative, so that thewinding means may be rotated while the spool means is held stationary orbe rotated together with the spool means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, to-gether with additional objects and advantages thereof,will be best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a windingapparatus according to the present invention;

and

Fig. 2 is -a detailed view of a guide roller mounting incorporated inthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a main support 30 which isadapted to carry a number of individual winding machines 31, one of thembeing shown in section on the left side of Fig. 1 and another beingshown on the right side. It will be understood, however, that morethantwo individual machines may be arranged on the support, in which casethe machines may be positioned one behind the other, as viewed in thedrawing,

United States Patent O and with the machines alternately extending tothe left and right. While only the left machine 31 will be described indetail, it will be understood that each winding machine may be of likeconstruction.

The winding machine 31 includes a shaftll which is journalled in housing32 by means of bearings 33. The shaft 11 extends outwardly of thehousing, and carries a worm gear 34 which is freely rotatable relativeto the shaft 11. The worm gear 34 is adapted toY be rotated by a worm 35which extends throughout the entire length of the support 30 so as to becapable of rotating the worm gear of each winding machine. The shaft 11also carries an axially displaceable sleeve 36 which is keyed to theshaft so as to'be rotatable therewith. The worm gear 34 and the sleeve36 carry cooperating clutch components 37, 38, respectively, so thatwhen the sleeve is moved rightwardly toward the worm gear these partswill be coupled to each other, thereby transmittingrotation of the worm35 to the shaft 11 by way of the worm gear 34, the clutch components 37,38 and the sleeve 36.

The shaft 11 carries a winding disk or drum 5 which is keyed to theshaft so as to be rotatable therewith. v'11T-he disk 5 carries at itsouter periphery a link 50 upon which a roller 40 is rotatably mounted.The link 50 is pivotable between two positions, one `of which is shownin solid lines and the other of which in dotted lines, so that differentwinding operations may be carried out.

The shaft 11 is formed with an axial bore 11a, and the wire filament orthe like which is to be wountll is guided into this bore by means ofguide rollers 41 and 42 arranged at o-ne end of the shaft 11. A furtherguide roller 43 is arranged atV the other end of the bore 11a forguiding the filament ontoy the roller 40, the mounting-ot` this roller40 being shown in greater detail in Fig. 2.

The shaft 11 also carries the hub 2 of a spool 3 upon which the filamentwound by the winding disk 5 is coiled.

This spool is arranged adjacent the disk 5 and is freely the mo-tiontransmitting means including a planetary gearing for holding the spoolstationary during rotation of the winding disk as well as a clutch forcoupling the spool and the winding disk for rotatio-n with each other,the arrangement of the parts being such that any one time either theplanetary gearing only or the clutch only will be operative, so that atno time will both of these parts be operative.

The planetary gearing includes a pair of center or sun gears 4 and 8 anda pair of planetary pinion Vgears 6 and 7 which are attached to a commonaxle 9, the latter being rotatably mounted on the-winding disk 5. The

center gear 8 is fixedly secured to the housing 32 and is permanently inmesh with the planetary pinion 7, whereas the center gear 4 is keyed toand therefore rotatable with a sleeve 1. This sleeve is mounted for freerotation upon the shaft 11 and is iirmlyattached tothe hub 3, the parts1, 2 and 3 together thus constituting a spool means.

ln addition to being rotatable with the sleeve 1, the center gear 4 isalso axially movable relative thereto toward and away from the windingdisk 5 between the two positions shown in solid and dotted lines,respectively. When the center gear 4 occupies the position shown insolid lines, the planetary gearing acts in such a manner as to hold thespool statitonary during rotation of the shaft 11 together with thewinding disk 5. This result is obtained inasmuch as the gear ratiobetween each cenf planetary pinion 6.

.tengearandits respective planetary pinion is the same so that theplanetary pinion 6 simply revolves about the center gear 4 withoutcausing rotation thereof. In this connectionfr'eference may be had 'tothe .above-mentioned -o-pndinggapplication Ser.,No.i428,074, iiledMay 6,1954,fnowPatent'No. 2,796,220dated June; 18, 1957.

The clutch for coupling thesspo'ol means.=12, `3-and ithewinding disk 5;for rotationwitheach other includes -a pairof clutch components 44,'and45. The clutch com- ,-ipontntr144iscarried by .thecenten gear 4forrotation rvthcrewith as -well;as'fora1tial movement therewith, andtheY clutch component'45 is carried by that part of the winding disk 5toward and away from which thecenter tgear'41is axially-movable.Thusgxwhen the clutch corn- `ponents`144 and`45are inengagement witheach other, thewinding disk-Stand the spool means 1, 2, 3 are cour pledto eachother for rotation' with each other so that when the shaftfll isrotated by the worm 35, the wind- `ingdisltfSfand thespoolmeans 1, 2, 3both willbe :rotated 'Thefarrangement of theparts is such` that the com-`'ponents 44 and f45engage .each other only when the f center Vgear 4Ais out of mesh with the planetary pinion T6. In other words, when thecenter gear 4 occupies the Iaxial position shown'in-solid lines whereinit meshes and f45 are spacedfrom `each other and therefore do -n'otcouple the winding disk 5 and the spool means 1, 2,

3. Conversely, when the center gear 4 occupies the axial positionshownin dotted lines wherein the components '44-and 45 `engage each other,the center gear is axially displaced from the position in which itmeshes with the Itwill be seen, therefore, that at anyone time eitherthe planetary gearing 4, `6, 7, 8 or the clutch 44, 45 will `beoperative, it being impossible "for both of these mechanisms to beoperative at the same time.

The clutch 44, 45imay be 4of any suitable construction. In practice, ithas been`foundthat a claw clutch Ais particularly suitable.

Suitable moving means are provided'for moving the'center gear 4 betweenits two axial positions wheneverdesired. These moving means may bemanually operable and include a pair of rods 10a which extend throughthe spood hub `3 and are attached to the sleeve '1. Area'dily accessiblehandle 10b is attached to the 'rods 10a.

If desired, asuitable detent 46 may be provided for `maintaining thecenter -gear 4 in-either of its two axial .positions. The vdetent may bein the form of a springrressed plungereadapted to engage holes formed inone 'of the rods 10a,the' location of the holes being so selecte'd`as-to correspond to the propern axial positions of "the centergear4.

It will be understood that each of the'elernents described above,`ortwo-'or 'more together, may also tind a nsefulfapplication in othertypes'of winding apparatus differing fr'omithe types describedabove.

While'theinventionV has been Villustrated and described 'asefmbodied ina winding machine in which the position of the-motion transmitting,means ismanually operable, it is` not intended to be limited' to thedetails shown,

Since` various moditicationsand structural-changes lmay betmade'withoutdeparting in` any way'from the gspirit of the' present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so'fully V-reveal the gistof 'the present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of. prior art, fairly constitute essential`characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inven---ition and, therefore, Asuch adaptations should and are intendedtobeacomprehended within the meansing and range of equivalence` of Ythefollowing t claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a winding apparatus,tin combination, rotatable spool means;rotatable winding means adapted to carry a filament for winding the sameon said spool means; and motion transmitting means interconnecting saidspool means and said winding means and including planetary gear meansfor holding said spool means stationary during rotation ofsaid windingmeans and clutch means for coupling said spool means and said windingmeans for rotation with each other,said motion transmitting means beingmovable between twoA positions inr one of which only said planetary gearmeans is operative and in the other of *which* only said clutch means isoperative, whereby said winding means may be rotated while said spoolmeans is held stationary or be rotated together with said spool means.

,f 2. In a winding apparatus, in combination,rotatable spool means;rotatable windingl meansadaptedytocarry 'al lilamentfor winding the sameon said spool means;

driving `means for rotating said winding means; and motion transmittingmeans interconnecting said spool means *and said windingmeans andincludingplanetary gear means for holding said spool meansv stationaryduring rotation of` said winding `means and vclutch means Afor couplingsaid spool means and said winding meansx-for rotation with each other,said motion transmitting means ,-beingmovable between two positions inone tofwhich only said planetarygear means is operative and* in theother Vof which only Asaid clutch means is operative, whereby saiddriving meansmay rotate 'said winding means while said spool means isheld stationary orV may rotate said winding means together with =saidspool means.

3. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotatable spool means;rotatable winding means arrangedfadjacent said spool means andadaptedtto carry a filament for winding the same on said spoolmeans;.driving means for `rotating said winding means; andmotiontransmitting means interconnecting said spool means and saidwinding means and including planetary gear means for holding said spoolmeans stationary during rotation of said` winding means and clutch meansfor couplingsaid spool means and said winding means for rotation witheach other, said motion transmitting means being movable between` twopositions in one of which only said planetary gear means is operativeand in the other of which onlysaid clutch means; is operative,wherebysaid driving means may. rotate said winding means while said spool meansis held stationary or'may rotate said winding means together with saidspool means.

Vcarry a lament Vfor winding the same on=saidspool means; and motiontransmitting/means interconnecting .-said spool meansland saidwindingmeans and including planetary gear means for holding said spool meansstationary during rotation ofsaid winding means and;clutch means forcoupling said spoolrmeans and saidwindng means for rotation with eachother, said motion transmitting meansbeing movable between two positionsin one of which only said planetary Vgear means is operative and in theother of which only said clutch means is operative, whereby said drivingmeans may rotate said shaft means together withsaid-winding meanswhilefsaid spool means is held stationary or may rotate said shaft meanstogether with both said winding means andsaid spool means.

5. In a winding apparatusfin combination, rotatable `spool means;rotatable `winding meansarraxiged` adjacent said spool means and adaptedto carry a filament for winding the same on said 'spool means; drivingmeans for rotating said winding means; and motion transmitting meansinterconnecting said spool means and said winding means and includingplanetary gear means for holding said spool means stationary duringrotation of said winding means and clutch means -for coupling said spoolmeans and said winding means for rotation with each other, said motiontransmitting means being movable between two positions in one of whichonly said planetary gear means is operative and in the other of whichonly said clutch means is operative, said motion transmitting meansincluding a center gear and a planetary pinion which are part of saidplanetary gear means, said center gear being rotatable with said spoolmeans and axially movable relativeV thereto toward and away from saidwinding 'means, said motion transmitting means also including a pair ofclutch components which are part of said clutch means, one of saidclutch components being carried by said center gear for rotationtherewith as well as for axial movement therewith and the other of saidclutch components being carried by that part of said winding meanstoward and away from which said center gear is axially movable, saidcenter gear and said clutch components being so constructed and arrangedthat when said motion transmitting means is in its one position, saidcenter gear occupies an axial'position wherein it meshes with saidplanetary pinion and wherein said clutch components are spaced from eachother and are therefore out of engagement with each other, and that whensaid motion transmitting means is in its other position, said centergear occupies another axial position wherein it is out of mesh with saidplanetary pinion and wherein said clutch components are in engagementwith each other, whereby said driving means may rotate said windingmeans while said spool means is held stationary or may rotate Saidwinding means together with said spool means.

6. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotatable spool means;rotatable winding means arranged adjacent s'aid spool means and adaptedto carry a filament for winding the same on said spool means; drivingmeans for rotating said winding means; motion transmitting meansinterconnecting said spool means and said winding means and includingplanetary gear means for holding said spool means stationary duringrotation of said winding means and clutch means for coupling said spoolmeans and said winding means for rotation with each other, said motiontransmitting means being movable between two positions in one of whichonly said planetary gear means is operative and in the other of whichonly said clutch means is operative, said motion transmitting meansincluding a center gear and a planetary pinion which are part of saidplanetary gear means, said center gear being rotatable with said' spoolmeans and axially movable relative thereto toward and away from saidwinding means, said motion transmitting means also including a pair ofclutch components which are part of said clutch means, one of saidclutch components being carried by said center gear for rotationtherewith as well as for axial movement therewith and the other of saidclutch components being carried by that part of said winding meanstoward and away from which said center gear is axially movable, saidcenter gear and said clutch components being so constructed and arrangedthat when said motion transmitting means is in its one position, saidcenter gear occupies an axial position wherein it meshes with saidplanetary pinion and wherein said clutch components are spaced from eachother and are therefore out of engagement with each other, and that whensaid motion transmitting means is in its other position, said centergear occupies another axial position wherein it is out of mesh with saidplanetary pinion and wherein said clutch components are in engagementwith each other; and means for moving said center gear between its twoaxial positions, whenever desired, whereby said driving means may rotatesaid winding means while said Spool means is Aheld stationary or mayrotate said winding means together with said spool means. j

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said means for moving saidcenter gear between its two axial positions are manually operable.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, 'and Vdetent means operativelyassociated with said means for moving said center gear between its twoaxial positions for maintaining the same in Veither of its twopositions. f

9. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotatable shaft means;driving means for rotating said shaft means; spool means mounted on saidshaft means rotatably relative thereto, said spool means being adaptedto have 'a filament wound thereon; winding means mounted on said shaftmeans for rotation therewith, said winding means being arranged adjacentsaid spool means and adapted to carry a filament for winding the same onsaid spool means; and motion transmitting means interconnecting saidspool means and said winding means and including planetary gear meansfor holding said spool means stationary during rotation of said windingmeans and clutch means for coupling said spool means and said windingmeans for rotation with each other, said motion transmitting means beingmovable between two positions in one of which only said planetary gearmeans is operative and in the other of which only said clutch means isoperative, said motion transmitting means including a center gear and aplanetary pinion which are part of said planetary gear means, saidcenter gear being rotatable with said spool means and axially movablerelative thereto toward and away from said winding means, said motiontransmitting means also including a pair of clutch components which arepart of said clutch means, one of said clutch components being carriedby said center gear for rotation therewith as well as for axial movementtherewith and the other of said clutch components being carried by thatpart of said winding means toward and away from which said center gearis axially movable, said center gear and said clutch components being soconstructed and arranged that when said motion transmitting means is inits one position, said center gear occupies an axial position whereinits meshes with said planetary pinion and wherein said clutch componentsare spaced from each other and are therefore out of engagement with eachother, and that when said motion transmitting means is in its otherposition, said center gear occupies another axial position wherein it isout of mesh with said planetary pinion and wherein said clutchcomponents are in engagement with each other, whereby said driving meansmay rotate said shaft means together with said winding means while saidspool means is held stationary or may rotate said shaft means togetherwith both said winding means and said spool means.

10. In a winding apparatus, in combination, rotatable shaft means;driving means for rotating said shaft means; spool means mounted on saidshaft means rotatably relative thereto, said spool means being adaptedto have a filament wound thereon; winding means mounted on said shaftmeans for rotation therewith, said winding means being arranged adjacentsaid spool means and adapted to carry a filament for winding the same onsaid spool means; motion transmitting means interconnecting said spoolmeans and said winding means and including planetary gear means forholding said spool means stationary during rotation of said windingmeans and clutch means for coupling said spool means and said windingmeans for rotation with each other, sai-d motion transmitting meansbeing movable between two positions in one of which only said planetarygear means is operative and in the other of which only said clutch meansis operative, said motion transmitting means including a center gear anda planetary pinion which are part of said planetary gear means, saidcenter gear being rotatable with said spool means and axially movablerelative there- .aannames i7 8 :toiowardvandftawayfrornfsaidwinding1means,saidmooccupiesanothenaxial,position wherein it is out ofmesh 'f tion rtransmittingimeansalsofincluding -,a ,-pair;nof.c1uteh.withsad` planetaryrpinion and whereinsaid clutch Comcomponents whichare part of said c1utch; means,rone,of v,ponents areA in engagement witheach. other; andrneans saidmlntehzecornpolientsbeing'earriedbyrsaidcenterjgear .'forA moving said center gear between itstwo axial ,posi-.for roIatiQnr -therewith-;as well as1,foraxia1fmovement 15 tions,lwhenever desired, whereby saidtdriving means may therewith and theotherof; said clutchcomponentsbeing rotate said shaft means togetherwith said winding means ecarriedtcby thatypart Aof said.windingmeansltowardland while said spool means is held stationaryor may rotate @away`from\-whichsaidmcentergrgean is axially movable, saidshaft meanstogether with both said winding means Vsaid eentengean and fsady clutchcomponentsffbeing'so Aand said spool means.

constructed fand ,arranged that whensaid motiontrans- 10 mittingmeansaisain its oneposition, said center gear References Cited in the meof this patent oceupiesan-axial-positionwhereinit` meshes with saidplanetary;l pinion and-whereintsaid'clutchcomponents are UNITED STATESPATENTS fspacedffromreach other and'are therefore out-ofengage-2,351,659 Dentzer et al. June 20' 1944 -ment` withveachother,-and.that-when said motion trans- 15 2,796,220 Stahl `et al. June 18,1957

